Electric typewriting machine



Dec. 1924- 1,520,089

I A. SCHERBIUS ELECTRI C TYPEWRITING MACHI NE Filed Feb. 15, 1924 '3Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5.

It uenedbfv sczusz'bz'us 37 m.-

Dec. 1924- 1,520,089

' A. SCHERBIUS ELECTRIC TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1924 3Sheets-Sheet 5 v Itwezibr' fl Sckel'b z at-5 Patented so. 23, 1924.

ARTHUR SCHERBIUS, OF BERLIN-WANNSEE, GERMANY.

ELECTRIC TYPEWBITING MACH IDFE.

Application filed February 15, 1924. Serial No. 693,113.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR SoHERBIUs, a citizen. of the German Republic,residing at Berlin-Nannsee, Germany, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in an Electric Typewriting Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an electric typewrit-ing machine of speciallysimple construction. The machine consists of very few strong elementsand is consequently very durable and secure in service.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, with the understandingthat while or. the drawings one embodiment of the invention isdisclosed, the invention is not confined to any strict conformity withthe showing of the drawings, but may be embodied in any manner whichdoes not make a material departure from the salient features of theinvention.

In the drawing .Fig. 1 illustrates the principal connection and by wayof example the construction of the most important elements of thetypewriting machine.

Fig. 2 shows in plan view the top part of the typewriting machine.

Fig. 3 is a section on line IIL-JII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 shows in plan view certain ele ments of the machine of modifiedconstruction,

Fig.6 shows in side elevation and partly in section the elements shownin Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 shows in plan view constructional elements of a third form ofconstruction.

Fig. 8 shows in plan view certain elements of a further form ofconstruction.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig. 1 the typewriting machine comprises a platen 1 and atypewheel 2 keyed on a shaft 3. The shaft 3 is driven from a motor 4. ACardan joint 5 is inserted in shaft 3. One end of the shaft 3, a piece6, is rigidly mounted in the motor, the remainder of shaft 3 beingadapted to slightly oscillate around the Cardan joint This oscillatingmovement is guided by a link 7 (Figs. 1 and 2), the bearing 8 of whichembraces the shaft 3. The link 7 is pivoted at 9. A spring 10 pressesthe shaft 3 and with the same the typewheel 2 into 'the position shownin Figs. 1 and 2. A

ratchet wheel 11 is mounted on shaft 3 under the typewheel 2. A nose 12of a lever 13 is adapted to engage with this ratchet wheel, the leverbeing adapted to be oscillated by the armature 14 of an electro-rnagnet15. The lever 13 is pivotally mounted. in a bearing 16. A brush 17,keyed on shaft 3 (Figs. 1 and 3), slides in a ring 18 constructed like acollector. The ring 18 is composed of segments 19 which are, each oneseparately, connectedwith one of the switches 20. The second poles ofthe switches 20 are connected by a common lead 21 with the pole of abattery 22, the other pole of which is connected with the electro-magnet15. T1115 electro-magnet is connected with the brush 1? by a lead 23.The switches 20 correspond with the several types of the typewritingmachine, and there are as many switches as there are types on the typewheel 2. Every switch 20 corresponds with a lamella of the ring 18.

Theoperation of the typewriting machine is as follows lVhen the motor 4has been started the shaft 3 revolves and with it the typewheel 2, theratchet wheel 11 and the brush 17.

magnet may be further provided which serves for making the typewheelstrike against the platen 1 or the platen against the typewheel.

By the arrangement shown in Figs. 1. to 3 the arrangement of a separatemagnet is. avoided as at the moment when the nose arrests one of theteeth of the ratchet wheel 11, the typewheel is made to strike, owing toits kinetic energy, against the platen in oscillating around the hearing9. and to be pulled back by the action of spring 10. As soon as thecontact 24 is interrupted the electro-lnagnet 15 releases the armature14, the nose '12 releases the ratchet wheel 11 ill and the motor 4,which had been braked, begins again to run so that a new type can bewritten.

In order to avoid the braking of the com paratively great mass of themotor two friction clutches 26 may be inserted between the motor 4 andthe part 3 of the shaft, said friction clutches permitting that thetypewheel and ratchet Wheel rotate normally with the shaft 3, the motorrevolving however without drawing along the shaft 3 for the short momentduring which the ratchet wheel is stopped by the lever 13. Thearrangement might however be of such a kind that the motor 4 is coupledby the same contact or by a separate contact at every depression of akey20.

The spring is fixed on a small wheel 27 which has noses and with whichengages the small stop lever 29 fitted with a handle. By means of thewheel 27 the tension of the spring 10 can be calculated so that thestriking force of the typewheel is regulated. For very high typing speedthe arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 3 may be modified as shown in Fig.4. Instead of the eleetroanagnetand the lever 13 a toothed wheel 30 isused which meshes with a toothed wheel 31 keyedon shaft 3. This toothedwheel 30 is mounted on a shaft 32 journalled on two bearings 33 and 34and running normally idle, driven by the toothed wheel 31. The .shaft 32carries at its lower end an iron plate 35 which is elasticallyadjustable in axial direction. With this object in view it is coupledwith the shaft by a spring 36 in such a manner that it is prevented fromrotating on shaft 32. A braking magnet 37 arranged opposite plate 35 isadapted to be excited by a coil 38 and has jaws 39. The winding of thebrake magnet 37 is inserted at the same point as the magnet 15 inFig. 1. If current is supp-lied to the electro-magnet 37 it attracts theplate 35 which is thus strongly pressed upon the jaws 39 of the brakingmagnet. The comparatively small sized rotating plate is thus brakedalmost instantaneously. The toothed wheel 31 rotating owing to itskinetic energy and by the power of the motor 4 tends now to furtherrotate the toothed wheel 30. The shaft 32 which must be comparativelythin is thus slightly torsioned and takes up essentially the kineticenergy of the rotating parts. At the same time it supplies thepower tomake the type wheel, which rotates around said shaft 32, strike againstthe platen. For

this purpose an arm 40 is arranged in which the shaft 3 is journaled anda head 41 of which surrounds the shaft 32, a cover 42 on this shaftpreventing the displacement of the same. The arrangement according toFig. 4 presents, in comparison with that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, theadvantage that hammerike strokes do not occur as the masses are notbraked suddenly but partly by the friction coupling and partly by-elastic forces. Undesirable striking noises are thus avoided and thematerial is not worn so rapidly so that the machine can serve for a longtime. The arrangement shown in Fig. 4 can be further arranged foressentially higher typing speed. The Cardan joint 5 may be avoided ifthe shaft 3 is sufficiently thin and flexible. Fig. 4 shows that theshaft 32 is held by the collar 42 in such a manner that a slightinterval exists between the plate 35 and the jaws 39 and the brakingmagnet. The collar 42 may be omitted and the plate 35 be keyed directlyon shaft 32 so that it is constantly in contact with the jaws 39 of theelectro-magnet 37 sliding upon the same when it rotates. For thispurpose a continuous small power transmission from toothed wheel 32 tothe toothed wheel 30 is necessary. This presents however the advantagethat the flanks of the teeth of the two toothed wheelsremain constantlyin contact with one another, a noiseless working being thus ensured andthe further advantage that no time is lost for the attraction of thearmature 35 by the braking magnet 37. The braking mechanism according toFig. 4 is given by way of example only. A band brake operated by anelectro-magnet or any other braking mechanism may also be used. In theform of construction shown in Fig. 4 the drive acts upon shaft 3, itcould however act also on shaft 32, in which case the movement of theplate 35 for the purpose of braking would be utilized at the sanie timefor uncoupling the same from the driving .point.

Figs. 14 show a typewriting machine in which the type wheel has astopping device with one-sided action so that the type wheel strikesagainst the platen directly after the stop jumps in, the kind ofstriking of the types on the platen having not been speciallyconsidered.

Figs. 5-9 show arrangemci'its in which the type which is actuallystriking strikes against the paper in exactly or almost exactl vperpendicular direction of movement.

According to Figs. 5 and 6 a type wheel is keyed on a shaft 51 on whichfurther a toothed wheel 52 is mounted. The shaft 51. is guided in abearing 53 fixed to a lever 54. At the other end of the levera collar 55is fixed which is mounted upon a station ary pin 56. The shaft 51 isconnected by means of a Cardan joint 57 with the shaft 58 of a motor. 59from which it. is driven. A lever 60 having a nose (32 engages with thetoothed wheel 52, said lever beingpivotally mounted at (31 and adaptedto be attracted by an elcctro-niagnet 63. The operation of thismechanism is similar to that described with reference to Figs. 1-4. The

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characteristics of the arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6 consist inthat the pivot axle, around which thetype wheel executes its strikingmovement after the nose 62 of lever 60 has come in engagement with thetoothed wheel 52, is oscillated in or approximately in the plane of thepaper to be typed. If (see Fig. 5) the centre of the pin 56 and nose 62are situated exactly or almost exactly in the same line the type wheelrot-ates around the nose 62 after this nose has come in engagement withthe space between two teeth of the toothed wheel 52. If this fulcrumissituated in the plane represented by the line A B of Fig. 5, said linebeing perpendicular to the plane of the type wheel, the type to be typedstrikes perpendicularly on the paper and on the platen 64. The planethrough the line A B must touch the platen at the point at which thetype wheel comes in contact with the platen when striking.

This idea of the invention may be carried out in various manners. In theembodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the toothed wheel 52 keyed on the sameshaft as the type wheel 50 is of much larger diameter than said typewheel. With this object in view it must be arran ed below or above theplaten Gl and be sufficiently distant from the typewheel as shown inFig. 6. By this simple measure it becomes possible to ensure theperpendicular striking of the type on the platen.

In Fig. 7 the support 65 for the paper has also the shape of a cylinderthe axis of which is however parallel with the axis of the type wheel. Atype wheel (36 and a toothed wheel 67 are driven by a common shaft 68which is journaled in a movable lever 69. This lever 69 is fulcrumed at70. Upon the lever 69 a two-armed lever 71 is mounted which has at theend of one arm a stop nose 7 2 and at the end of the other arm anarmature 73 adapted to be attracted by an electro-magnet 74. When this.elec tro-magnet 74 is excited it attracts the armature 73; the stopnose comes in engagement with the space between two types of the toothedwheel 67 and the type wheel moves in the direction of the arro\v 75towards the platen pivoting around the fulcrum 70 of the lever 69 whichdraws along the two-armed lever 71. The armature 73 may be arranged asshown in Fig. 7, in such 'a manner, that the attracting power of theelectro-magnet acts perpendicularly with regard to this movement of thelever 71 so that the magnetic force acting upon the-armature 73 does notinterfere with the movement of the lever 69. If the fulcrum 70 of thelever 69 is situated in a plane C D, which touches the platen at thepoint of contact between it and the typewheel, the typewheel strikesperpendicularly on the surface of the paper.

The form of construction shown in Fig. 7 presents the advantage that thediameter of the toothed wheel need not be greater than that of thetypewheel. With the arrangement of the platen 65 shown in Fig. 7parallel to the axle of the type wheel the use of a larger sized toothedwheel wouldnot be possible.

The electro-magnet'may further be'mounted on the lever in which theshaft of the typewheel is journaled; In this case the leiji-ds' for theelectro-magnet must be mova le.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a further form of construction which operates in asimilar manner as that shown in Fig. 7. After a nose 76 has come inengagement with'the ratchet wheel the type wheel 77 oscillates aroundthe stationary pivot axle 78. In this case the type wheel is driven by atoothed Wheel 80 keyed on the shaft 79 of the type wheel and drivenitself from motor 81 through the intermediary of the gear wheels 82 and83. When the typewheel is not printing, the lever 84 is pressed by theaction of a spring 85 against its abutment v 86. The form ofconstruction shown in Figs.

8 and 9 possesses the advantage that the direct drive of the typewheelshaft, and

consequently the Cardan joint, are suppressed.

I claim 1. Electric type writing machine with rotating type wheelcomprising in combination aplaten, an oscillably mounted shaft, a typewheel on said shaft, a stop .wheel on said shaft, a source of power forrotating said typewheel shaft, a friction coupling inserted between saidtype wheelshaft and said source of power, a Cardan joint inserted insaid type wheel shaft, a ring composed of sectors, means forelectricallyconnecting each sector of said ring with one key, a brush on said typewheel shaft sliding upon said ring, a pawl adapted to engage with saidstop wheel, a pivot pin on which said pawl is pivotally mounted saidpawl being arranged with regard to said platen so that when the pawlengages with the stop 'Wheel said type Wheel oscillates towards theplaten and strikes against the same, an electroill) loo

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magnet inserted'in'the electric circuit and operating said pawl.

2. Electric type writing machine with rotating type wheel comprising inc0mbination a platen, an oscillably mounted shaft,

a type wheel on said shaft, a toothed wheel on said shaftserving as stopwheel, a source of power for rotating said type wheel shaft,

- a' rotatably mounted shaft, a toothed wheel on said rotatable shaftgearing with said toothed wheel on said type wheel shaft, a diskon saidtoothed Wheel shaft, an electromagnet arranged in proximity to saiddisk, a friction coupling inserted between said type wheel shaft andsaid source of power, a Uardan. joint inserted in said type wheel shaft,a ring, composed of sectors, means for electrically connecting eachsector of said ring with one key, a brush on said type wheel shaftsliding upon said ring, and an electric circuit in which saidelectro-niagnet is inserted.

3. Electric type writing machine with rotating type wheel comprising incombination a platen, an oscillably mounted shaft, a type wheel on saidshaft, a toothed wheel as stop wheel, a source of power for rotatingsaid type wheel shaft, a friction coupling inserted between said typewheel shaft and said source of power, a Cardan joint inserted into saidtype wheel shaft, a ring composed of sectors, means for electricallyconnecting each sector of said ring with one key, a brush on said typewheel shaft sliding upon said ring, a pawl adapted to engage with saidstop wheel, an oscillable arm in which said type wheel shaft is mounted,a stud on which said arm is pivoted, said stud and the free end of saidpawl being situated in a plane approximately parallel to the type wheelshaft and tangent to said platen.

4. Electric type writing machine with rotating type wheel comprising incombination a platen, an oscillably mounted shaft, a type wheel on saidshaft, a stop wheel, a source of power for rotating said type wheelshaft, a friction coupling inserted between said type wheel shaft andsaid source of power, a Cardan joint inserted into said type wheelshaft, a ring composed of sectors, means for electrically connectingeach sector of said ring with one key, a brush on said type wheel shaftsliding upon said ring,

a pawl adapted to engage with said stop wheel, an oscillable arm inwhich said-type wheel shaft is mounted, a stud on which said arm ispivotally mounted, a pivot axle for said pawl fixed on said arm, anelectromagnet for said pawl stationarily arranged and not moving withsaid arm, the stud of said arm and the free end of said pawl beingmounted in a plane approximately parallel to said type wheel shaft andtangent to said platen.

5. Electric type writing machine with rotating type wheel comprising incombination a platen, an oscillably mounted shaft, a type wheel on saidshaft, a stop wheel, a source of power for rotating said type wheelshaft, a friction coupling inserted between said type wheel shaft andsaid source of power, a Cardan joint inserted into said type wheelshaft, a ring composed of sectors, means for electrically connectingeach sector of said ring with one key, a brush on said type wheel shaftsliding upon said ring, a pawl adapted to engage with said stop wheel,an oscillable arm in which said type wheel shaft is mounted, a stud onwhich said arm is pivotally mounted, a pivot axle for said pawl fixed onsaid arm, an electro magnet for said pawl also mounted on said arm, thepivot stud for said arm and the free end of said pawl being situated ina plane approximately parallel to the type wheel shaft and tangent tothe platen.

In testimon whereof I ailix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

ARTHUR SCHERBIUS. Witnesses: WLAD. ENDERS,

vIRIEGERL. ANsPAGH.

